SafeUM
Home Blog Services Download Help About Recharge

Axarhöfði 14, 110 Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland - 2015
SafeUM
Blog
Services
Download
Help
About
Recharge
Menu
Archive
TOP Security!
30 May 2017

Android malware punches its way through as many as 36.5 million devices

An Android malware campaign called Judy has been discovered lurking in more than 40 apps in the Google Play Store, and it might have punched its way through as many as 36.5 million devices.

Check Point discovered the malware that thankfully doesn't resort to ransomware or stealing bank credentials. Instead, it installs a form of auto-clicking adware to generate large amounts of fraudulent clicks on advertisements in order to raise money for the perpetrators.

According to Check Point, the malware has a reach of anywhere between 8.5 million and 36.5 million users worldwide from 41 different apps offered for sale on the Google Play Store, perpetrated in two distinct campaigns. The malware, claims Check Point, has been freely available on Google Play for many years, and regularly updated until recently. Google is supposed to thoroughly vet software before it is allowed for sale in order to prevent malware from infecting users.

The malware was embedded in apps developed by a Korean company called Kiniwini, which was registered on Google Play as EniStudio. "Similar to previous malware that has infiltrated Google Play, such as FalseGuide and Skinner, Judy relies on the communications with its command and control server for its operation," claimed the researchers.

They add that the apps containing the malware have been removed from the Play Store by Google following a warning from Check Point. "To bypass 'Bouncer', Google Play's [anti-malware] protection, the hackers created a seemingly benign bridgehead app, meant to establish a connection to the victim's device, and insert it into the app store," explains Check Point in its advisory.

It continues: "Once a user downloads a malicious app, it silently registers receivers which establish a connection with the C&C server. The server replies with the actual malicious payload, which includes JavaScript code, a user-agent string and URLs controlled by the malware author.

"The malware opens the URLs using the user agent that imitates a PC browser in a hidden webpage and receives a redirection to another website. Once the targeted website is launched, the malware uses the JavaScript code to locate and click on banners from the Google ads infrastructure."

Upon clicking the ads, the malware author receives payment from the website developer. Apps used by the malware creators include Fashion Judy: Snow Queen Style, Fashion Judy: Vampire style, Chef Judy: Character Lunch and Fashion Judy: Frozen Princess - hence, of course, the name given to the malware campaign.


Download SafeUM — communicate privately, without advertising and spam.

Tags:
Android information leaks Google fraud
Source:
TheINQUIRER
1654
Other NEWS
3 Jul 2020 safeum news imgage An encrypted messaging service has been infiltrated by police
4 May 2020 safeum news imgage Two-Factor Authentication ​What Is It and Why You Should Use It
12 Dec 2019 safeum news imgage Encryption is under threat - this is how it affects you
4 Nov 2019 safeum news imgage Should Big Decisions Be Based on Data or Your Intuition?
7 Jun 2018 safeum news imgage VPNFilter malware infecting 500,000 devices is worse than we thought
4 Jun 2018 safeum news imgage Hackers target Booking.com in criminal bid to steal hundreds of thousands from customers
1 Jun 2018 safeum news imgage Operator of World's Top Internet Hub Sues German Spy Agency
30 May 2018 safeum news imgage US says North Korea behind malware attacks
29 May 2018 safeum news imgage Facebook and Google targeted as first GDPR complaints filed
25 May 2018 safeum news imgage A new reason to not buy these cheap Android devices
24 May 2018 safeum news imgage Flaws in smart pet devices, apps could come back to bite owners
23 May 2018 safeum news imgage Google sued for 'clandestine tracking' of 4.4m UK iPhone users' browsing data
21 May 2018 safeum news imgage LocationSmart reportedly leaked phone location data onto the web
18 May 2018 safeum news imgage The SEC created its own scammy ICO to teach investors a lesson
17 May 2018 safeum news imgage Thieves suck millions out of Mexican banks in transfer heist
All news
SafeUM
Confidential Terms of Use Our technologies Company
Follow us
Download
SafeUM © Safe Universal Messenger

Axarhöfði 14,
110 Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland - 2015